From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Vehicle weight reduction, component comparisons, and issues with overweight castings from suppliers.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\E\September1920\ Scan48 | |
| Date | 1st September 1920 | |
| To C.J. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} -7- R6/G7/9/20 Contd. we have added the weight of the electrical starter motor, and its equipment. It was the frequent and probably unjust complaints against weight that made us attempt to economise in the weight of the rear springs which we found to be less highly stressed than the front springs. It will be remembered that we have successfully carried the biggest weights in the War, of bodies and also when built into armoured cars, and the stresses and vibrations have been so great that we have had to build an entirely different type of radiator from that usually fitted to English and American cars. * I should also like to point out that it is reported to me that the Packard back-axle for instance, is actually heavier than ours although it is built on a scheme which is far less satisfactory from wear and dirt exclusion. To judge the difference it is only necessary to look at the brake system, and the system of torque tube and control. I am aware that there are parts which should and are being lightened, but these have principally come about through the dishonesty of the steel founders, or their employees who have so added to the weight of these castings that we are abandoning their use as soon as we can get a supply of drop forgings and sheet metal pressings to replace them. These are mostly in the hands of production and are some of the parts which have been redesigned owing to the imperfections of the present supplies. Although our engine is not of a particularly light pattern we have a chassis which stands the stresses well, and (Contd.) | ||